Caravaca de la cruz. The holly city
To the northwest of the province of Murcia is the town of Caravaca de la Cruz a it is the capital of the northwest Region of Murcia.
Caravaca de la Cruz is also the fifth holiest city in the world after Santiago de Compostela, Santo Toribio de Liébana, Rome and Jerusalem. This town therefore celebrates an Annus Sanctus every seven years, a time of jubilee and when plenary, solemn and universal indulgence is granted to all those who make the pilgrimage.
Along with Easter processions and parades of Moors and Christians, it is especially relevant the celebration of Horses of Wine (Los caballos del Vino), which now aspires to be the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Caravaca is dominated by the medieval Castle of Santa Cruz, and contains several convents and a fine parish church, with a miraculous cross celebrated for its healing power, in honor of which a yearly festival is held on the 3 May. Caravaca is home to many monuments and museums, many of which are important tourist attractions.
Caravaca de la Cruz, environmentally, has an extraordinary and privileged location. Las Fuentes del Marques is a place of immense natural beauty whose role lies in the numerous births of crystalline waters that form a unique setting. It has been installed interpretation center of nature showing the many species of birds, fish and small mammals that inhabit the place.
